Mining-squib.



PATENTED JULY 26, 19-04.

J. POWELL. MINING s niB. APPLICATION IILEI D JULY 23, 1902.

2 sums-5111mm 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 766,062. I PATENTED JULY 26, 1904. J. R. POWELL. MINING SQUIB.APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patented 'July 26, 1904.

PATENT @rrrce.

JOHN R. POWELL, OF PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MINING-SQUIB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,062, dated. July26, 1904.

Application filed ly 23, 1902.

To (1. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. POWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Plymouth, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mining- Squib, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to mining-squibs used in connection with blastingoperations; and the object in view is to provide a device of this classwhich can be made with greater facility and at less cost than articlesfor the same purpose heretofore in use, and particularly to provideimproved means for closing the squib-tube. for communicating the fire tothe contents of the squib-tube, for normally protecting the end of thesquib tube to prevent the accidental escape of the explosive contentsthereof, and for normally protecting the closure of the squib-tube,while permitting ready inspection thereof. 'i

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this classin which there is formed a twisted tube-closure separate and independentfrom the fuse or match and so arranged that it may be untwisted in orderto permit examination of the contents of the squib without untwistingthe fuse or match.

Furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details may beresorted to without departing from the spirit'or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a complete squib constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the fuse ormatch drawn to one side to fully expose the closure of the squib-tube.Fig. 3 is a view of the preferred form of blank, which may be of tissue,Manila, or anyother suitable kind of paper or other material. Fig. t isa view ofa slightly-modified form of blank. Fig. 5 is a detail view of astack of blanks with the fuse-tongues folded longitudinally toillustrate the first step in the operation of constructing the squib.Fig. 6 is a View showing the body portion of the blank partly rolledaround the forming-pin.

5 eria1No.116,714. (No model.)

Fig. 7 is a view showing the blank completely rolled and the pin partlywithdrawn, so that its extremity is at the end of the squib-tube proper,the fuse and closure tongues being extended preparatory to twisting.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The squib embodying the invention comprises a squib-tube 1. fitted at itits upper end with a flexible twisted closure 2 and also provided with aflexible twisted fuse or match 3, the closure and fuse being separateand being independently twisted, but the lower portion of the fuseembracing and partly surrounding the lower portion of the closureadjacent to the extremity of the squib-tube, so as to choke or bind theclosure, and thereby prevent the accidental untwisting thereof, andhence prevent the accidental discharge of the contents of thesquib-tube.

Various forms of blanks may be used in the construction of the squibembodying the invention; but the preferred form is shown in Fig. 3, andit consists of a body portion a, the length thereof from the lower endto the shoulder I; determining the length of the squib-tube. Projectingfrom and integral with the upper end of the body portion a at theopposite side edge from the shoulder b is a closure-tongue c, andprojecting in the same direction from the body portion of theblankbetween the closure-tongue and the shoulder b is a fuse-tongue cl, theclosure and fuse tongues being separated by a cut 6, which extendsinward a considerable distance beyond the line of the shoulder b forpurposes hereinafter explained. In this preferred form of blank the lineof cut e by which the closure-tongue is separated from the fuse-tongueis oblique to the length of the blank, and said line is extended beyondthe abrupt end of the closure-tongue 0 until it intersects acontinuation of the line of the outer side edge of said tongue, whereasthe opposite edge of the fuse-tongue is on a line parallel with the sideedges of the body portion of the blank and meets the upper edge of thetongue at a right angle. As indicated by the bounding dotted lines inFig. 3, the

blank is cut from a rectangular sheet from which there are noprojections, and hence the waste in forming the blank is small.Moreover, while in practice it is preferred to cut the corner of thebody portion at its upper end opposite to the closure-tongue, asindicated at f, it is possible to carry out the main object of theinvention without this additional cut and by allowing the right edge ofthe blank, as shown in Fig. 3 by dotted lines, to intersect the shoulder7) in a right angle.

In the modified form of blank illustrated in Fig. t the body portion acorresponds substantially in shape with the body of the preferred formof blank, terminates at its upper end near one edge in an abruptshoulder Z). A closure-tongue 0' projects upward from the body portionat the opposite edge from the shoulder b, and a fuse-tongue d extendsupward from the body portion between the closure-tongue and the shouldert; but in this form of the invention the side edges of the fuse-tongueare parallel, as are the side edges of the closure-tongue, to a pointinward beyond the shoulder b, and said closure and fuse tongues arefurther separated by an inclined or oblique cut (1.

It will be seen that in both of the illustrated forms of blank the bodyportions are of sub stantially rectangular contour, from the upper endsof which project the fuse and closure tongues of different lengths, theformer extending beyond the latter, and it will be seen, moreover, thatin both forms the adjacent edges of the tongues are prolonged inwardly(into the body portion of the blank) and separated by a out, whichpermits the independent rolling of the tongues, for a purposehereinafter explained.

Inasmuch as the operation of forming the squib is practically the samewith either form of blank and with any form of blank having the samegeneral features of construction the description of said operation inreference to one form will be sufficient to disclose the nature of theinvention, particularly as the resulting articles are sufiicientlysimilar in appearance and structure to be indistinguishable except to anexpert. Therefore in further describing the invention particularreference will be had to the preferred form of the blank as illustratedin Fig. 3.

The first step in the operation of forming a squib (after the blankshave been cut) is to fold the fuse-tongue longitudinally, as indicatedin Fig. 5. This is desirable, though not necessary, as a means ofinsuring the independent formation of the tube-closure and fuse bypreventing the tongues from rolling together except at a point neartheir juncture with the body portion of the blank. The ordinary devicefor use in connection with the rolling of the tube is a pin 4, which inpractice is placed on the blank near one side edge. The edge of theblank is pressed over the same,

and then the turning of the pin will roll the body portion until itforms a perfect tube. It is desirable to provide for proceeding withthis operation without such delay as would be involved in folding thefuse-tongue, and therefore it has been an important object of thisinvention to provide such a construction of fuse-tongue as would permitthe preliminary folding of a number of them prior to separating theblanks. Therefore in practice the lower portion of the fuse-tongue iscut obliquely, (see both illustrated forms, Figs. 3 and 4,) and when aplurality of the blanks arranged in a stack, as shown in Fig. 5, havebeen folded to thereby interlock the tongues (Z the operator may graspthe uppermost blank near the lower end of the body portion and by aquick movement separate its tongue from those of the stack withoutdanger of tearing, even when tissue or other light paper is used. Theobliquely-disposed edge e of the uppermost blank draws over the lowerportion of the folded fuse-tongue, and the latter readily disconnectsitself from the stack of folded tongues without disturbing those whichare not grasped. Thus one folding operation of the tongues will sufiicefor a large number of blanks, and, moreover, the folding or interfoldingof the tongues holds the blanks from becoming scattered or disarrangedby the movements of the operator. Having folded the tongues of a stackof the blanks, the next operation is to remove the uppermost blank fromthe stack in the manner above described, place the pin 4 parallel withthe left-hand edge of the body portion of the blank, start the edge ofthe blank over the pin, as indicated in Fig;

6, apply paste or other adhesive material to the surface of the bodyportion adjacent to the right-hand edge, as indicated at 5 in Fig. 6,and then quickly roll the pin to gather up the remaining portion of theblank. Obviously as soon as the pasted or adhesive edge of the blankcomes in contact with the rolled body portion it can be pressed to placeby a quick movement of the thumb and forefinger of the left hand of theoperator, when the article has the appearance indicated in Fig. 7, withthe closure and fuse tongues projecting upward from the tube and closetogether, but not interrolled. While the rolling operation insures thefolding of the lower or base portion of the closure-roll within thelower portion of the fuse-tongue, the upper or outer extremity of theclosure-tongue has passed over the folded part of the fuse-tongue, andhence is presented, as in Fig. 7 at the end of the rolling operation inposition to receive a twist without being wholly enveloped by thefuse-tongue.

The final step in the operation of forming the squib is accomplishedalmost simultaneously with the smoothing of the pasted edge of the bodyportion. As the fingers of the operator pass upward in the act ofsmoothing this joint they come in contact with the projecting portionsof the closure and fuse tongues, when by a quick backward and forwardmovement of the thumb and forefinger each tongue is twisted separately,and each projects from the tube independently of the other except attheir inner interlocked portions, and it should be noted that it isimmaterial in which direction the tongues are twisted. It is usual inthis art to twist. a tongue continuously in one direction until thedesired compactness is insured; but with the arrangement above describedit is possible to give the tongues the required twist by simply rollingthem between the thumb and forefinger, the movement of the latter beingforward and backward and both of the tongues being grasped at the sametime. This completes the operation of rolling the squib, after which thefilling may be accomplished in accordance with the usual practice.

It has been found in the course of experiments'that good results areobtained by cutting away the corner of the body portion of the blank atthe shoulder b and terminating the paste-line at the lower end of thiscut-away portion, because it leaves the upper end of the tube soft andunaffected by the paste, so that the fire of the fuse is more readilycommunicated to the contents of the tube, the desired rigidity ofconstruction being secured by the spiral Winding of this oblique edge faround the previously-rolled portion of the body of the blank. It willbe seen, however, that-at the completion of the rolling operation theupper end of the closure-tongue projects above the upper end of thetube,while the lower portion of the closure-tongue is embraced orinfolded by the lower portion of .the fuse-tongue, so that when thetongues are twisted to receive the form indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 thelower portion of the fuse-tongue is tightly drawn around that portion ofthe closure-tongue which is located directly at the end of thesquib-tube, thus in effect choking or binding the closure to add to itsefiiciency in preventing the accidental escape of the contents of thetube. This. arrangement of parts, however, has a further function ofvital importance in this connection. When the extremity of the fuse islighted. and the burning has progressed to a point adjacent to the endof the squib-tube, the fire embraces the adjacent portion of theclosure, and therefore ignites the closure, and thus with certainty thefire is communicated to the contents of the squibtube. There is nopossibility of the fire being conveyed to one side of the end of thetube, and thus dying by reason of lack of fuel suitable for supportingcombustion. The closure-tongue is the innermost roll of the tube, andtherefore fire communicated to this closure-tongue must be conveyed intothe tube, particularly if the portion of the tube adjacent to itsextremity has not been hardened by paste or adhesive material, and firemust be communicated to the closure because of the loweror inner portionthereof being embraced by the fuse or match.

The separate construction of the closure and fuse provides for theinspection of the former without untwisting the latter, as in the usualpractice, such untwisting being necessary under ordinary circumstancesto ascertain whether any of the explosive contents of the tube haveescaped into the fuse, and, moreover, this separate construction of theclosure and fuse provide for dipping both into either a solution ofsaltpeter or liquid sulfur to.increase the inflammability thereof andinsurev the continuous burning thereof when ignited. Moreover, the upperouter corner of the closure-tongue may be cut away, as indicated by thedotted line 9, to facilitate starting the blank on the pin in the act ofrolling, or the lower left-hand edge of the blank may be cut away, asindicated by the dotted line it, for a similar purpose, or bothexpedients may be adopted.

A further advantage of the described construction of parts, particularlywith reference to the extension of the cut e between the closure and thefuse or match tongues downward for a considerable distance beyond thetransverse line of the upper end of the body 9 the rolling of theclosure tongue without gathering up and infolding it with the fuse ormatch-tongue, it leaves a sufiicient width of material at the base ofthe fuse or match tongue on its line of juncture with the body portionto prevent accidental tearing or detaching of the fuse or match tonguein the act of separating a blank from a stack and in finally rolling ortwisting the tongues to form the resulting closure and fuse or match.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A mining-squibhaving a fuse or match and a separate exposed tube-closure that may beuntwisted to permit examination of the contents of the tube withoutuntwisting the fuse or match.

2. A mining-squib having a fuse or match and an exposed twistedtube-closure that may -be untwisted to permit examination of thecontents of the tube without untwisting the fuse or match.

3. A mining-squib having a twisted fuse and a tube-closure embraced andchoked or contracted-at one point by the adjacent portion of the fuse,and havinga free extremity that may be untwisted to permit examinationof the contents of the tube without untwisting the fuse or match.

L. A mining-squib having separate twisted fuse or match and closuretongues interlocked at the extremity of the squib-tube. theclosure-tongue independent of the fuse or match to permit the untwistingthereof and examination of the contents of the tube without untwistingsaid fuse or match.

5. A mining-squib havingfree twisted fuse or match and closure tonguesof which the latter may be untwisted to expose the contents of the tubewithout untwisting the fuse or match. the portion of the closure-tongueadjacent to the extremity of the squib-tube being embraced by the fuseor match tongue.

6. A mining-squib having a free twisted tube-closure, and a separatetwisted fuse or match embracing the closure at a point adjacent to theextremity of the tube, thereby to permit of untwisting of thetube-closure to examine the contents of the tube Without untwisting thematch.

7. A mining-squib having a match and a rolled tube with a portion of itsblank extended beyond the extremity of the tube and twisted to form atube-closure that may be untwisted to examine the contents of the tubewithout untwisting the match.

8. A mining-squib having a match and a rolled tube of which one or moreinner wraps are extended beyond the end of the tube and are twisted toform a tube-closure that may be untwisted to examine the contents of thetube without untwisting the match.

9. A mining-squib having a rolled tube constructed of a blank havingseparate tongues extended from one end and twisted to form respectivelya tube-closure and a fuse or match that may be untwisted independent ofeach other.

10. A mining-squib having a rolled tube provided with terminal twistedextensions which are interrolle-d at the end of the tube and areterminally separate to form respectively a fuse or match and atube-closure that may be untwisted independent of each other.

11. A mining-squib having a rolled tube of which the outer and innerwraps are extended beyond the end of the tube, and are twisted to formrespectively a fuse or match and a separate tube-closure that may beuntwisted independent of each other. e

12. A blank for a mining-squib having a body portion provided at one endwith separate extensions respectively of lesser and greater lengthforming respectively closure and fuse or match tongues that may beuntwisted independent of each other.

13. A blank for a mining-squib having a body portion provided at one endwith extensions respectively forming a closure-tongue and a fuse ormatch tongue, the line of separation between which is extended inwardbeyond the adjacent end of the body portion of the blank.

14. A blank for a mining-squib having a body portion provided at one endwith separate extensions forming respectively a closuretongue and a fuseor match tongue separated by a cut disposed obliquely to the length ofthe body portion and extended inward beyond the adjacent end of the bodyportion of the blank.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. POWELL.

Witnesses:

J. Ross Common, 0. E. DOYLE.

